Discussing work schedules and shift changes is a common task in many workplaces. This guide provides essential Korean phrases for explaining team shifts clearly and effectively to your colleagues, particularly useful during informal moments like breaks.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 근무 교대
Pronunciation: geun-mu gyo-dae
Meaning: Shift change / Work rotation
Basic Shift Vocabulary
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Expression: 오늘 근무 시간이 어떻게 되세요?
Pronunciation: o-neul geun-mu si-gan-i eo-tteo-ke doe-se-yo?
Meaning: What are your work hours today? -
Expression: 제 근무 시간은 오전 9시부터 오후 6시까지입니다.
Pronunciation: je geun-mu si-gan-eun o-jeon a-hop-si-bu-teo o-hu yeo-seot-si-kka-ji-im-ni-da.
Meaning: My work hours are from 9 AM to 6 PM. -
Expression: 몇 시에 출근하세요?
Pronunciation: myeot si-e chul-geun-ha-se-yo?
Meaning: What time do you start work? -
Expression: 몇 시에 퇴근하세요?
Pronunciation: myeot si-e toe-geun-ha-se-yo?
Meaning: What time do you finish work? -
Expression: 저는 주간 근무예요.
Pronunciation: jeo-neun ju-gan geun-mu-ye-yo.
Meaning: I’m on the day shift. -
Expression: 저는 야간 근무예요.
Pronunciation: jeo-neun ya-gan geun-mu-ye-yo.
Meaning: I’m on the night shift. -
Expression: 오전조 / 오후조
Pronunciation: o-jeon-jo / o-hu-jo
Meaning: Morning shift / Afternoon shift -
Expression: 근무 시간표 좀 확인해 봅시다.
Pronunciation: geun-mu si-gan-pyo jom hwa-gin-hae bop-si-da.
Meaning: Let’s check the work schedule. -
Expression: 우리 근무 바꿀 수 있을까요?
Pronunciation: u-ri geun-mu ba-kkul su i-sseul-kka-yo?
Meaning: Can we switch shifts? -
Expression: 다음 주 근무표 나왔어요?
Pronunciation: da-eum ju geun-mu-pyo na-wa-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Is the schedule for next week out? -
Expression: 휴게 시간
Pronunciation: hyu-ge si-gan
Meaning: Break time -
Expression: 교대 근무
Pronunciation: gyo-dae geun-mu
Meaning: Shift work / Rotational work
Explaining a Shift Change
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Expression: 다음 주부터 근무 시간이 변경됩니다.
Pronunciation: da-eum ju-bu-teo geun-mu si-gan-i byeon-gyeong-doem-ni-da.
Meaning: The work schedule changes starting next week. -
Expression: 제가 내일 오전 근무를 맡게 됐어요.
Pronunciation: je-ga nae-il o-jeon geun-mu-reul mat-ge dwae-sseo-yo.
Meaning: I’ll be working the morning shift tomorrow. -
Expression: 소라 씨는 다음 주 월요일 오후 근무입니다.
Pronunciation: so-ra ssi-neun da-eum ju wo-ryo-il o-hu geun-mu-im-ni-da.
Meaning: Sora, you are scheduled for the afternoon shift next Monday. -
Expression: 팀장님이 새 근무표를 게시판에 붙이셨어요.
Pronunciation: tim-jang-nim-i sae geun-mu-pyo-reul ge-si-pan-e bu-chi-syeo-sseo-yo.
Meaning: The team leader posted the new schedule on the notice board. -
Expression: 이번 주 금요일 제 근무 좀 대신 해줄 수 있어요?
Pronunciation: i-beon ju geum-yo-il je geun-mu jom dae-sin hae-jul su i-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Could you possibly cover my shift this Friday? -
Expression: 오늘 제가 민준 씨 근무를 대신하기로 했어요.
Pronunciation: o-neul je-ga min-jun ssi geun-mu-reul dae-sin-ha-gi-ro hae-sseo-yo.
Meaning: I agreed to cover Minjun’s shift today. -
Expression: 우리 근무 교대 순서가 바뀌었어요.
Pronunciation: u-ri geun-mu gyo-dae sun-seo-ga ba-kkwi-eo-sseo-yo.
Meaning: Our shift rotation order has changed. -
Expression: 근무 인수인계 사항에 대해 이야기합시다.
Pronunciation: geun-mu in-su-in-gye sa-hang-e dae-hae i-ya-gi-hap-si-da.
Meaning: Let’s talk about the handover details for the shift. -
Expression: 다음 근무자를 위해 업무 내용을 정리해 주세요.
Pronunciation: da-eum geun-mu-ja-reul wi-hae eom-mu nae-yong-eul jeong-ri-hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please organize the work details for the next person on shift. -
Expression: 제가 맡을 업무에 대해 설명해 주시겠어요?
Pronunciation: je-ga ma-teul eom-mu-e dae-hae seol-myeong-hae ju-si-ge-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Could you explain the tasks I’ll be responsible for? -
Expression: 변경된 근무 시간 확인하셨어요?
Pronunciation: byeon-gyeong-doen geun-mu si-gan hwa-gin-ha-syeo-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Have you checked the changed work hours? -
Expression: 사정이 생겨서 그런데, 혹시 근무 바꿔줄 수 있나요?
Pronunciation: sa-jeong-i saeng-gyeo-seo geu-reon-de, hok-si geun-mu ba-kkwo-jul su in-na-yo?
Meaning: Something came up, is there any chance you could switch shifts with me?
Asking About Shifts
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Expression: 다음 교대 근무는 몇 시에 시작해요?
Pronunciation: da-eum gyo-dae geun-mu-neun myeot si-e si-jak-hae-yo?
Meaning: What time does the next shift start? -
Expression: 제 다음 근무자는 누구예요?
Pronunciation: je da-eum geun-mu-ja-neun nu-gu-ye-yo?
Meaning: Who is relieving me? / Who is the next worker after me? -
Expression: 근무 교대 시 인수인계 시간이 있나요?
Pronunciation: geun-mu gyo-dae si in-su-in-gye si-gan-i in-na-yo?
Meaning: Is there a handover time between shifts? -
Expression: 업데이트된 근무표 보셨어요?
Pronunciation: eop-de-i-teu-doen geun-mu-pyo bo-syeo-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Did you see the updated schedule? -
Expression: 다음 주 월요일 제 근무 시간 확인해 주실 수 있나요?
Pronunciation: da-eum ju wo-ryo-il je geun-mu si-gan hwa-gin-hae ju-sil su in-na-yo?
Meaning: Can you confirm my shift time for next Monday? -
Expression: 근무 일정에 변동 사항이 있나요?
Pronunciation: geun-mu il-jeong-e byeon-dong sa-hang-i in-na-yo?
Meaning: Are there any changes to the work schedule? -
Expression: 이 시간대 주요 업무는 무엇인가요?
Pronunciation: i si-gan-dae ju-yo eom-mu-neun mu-eo-sin-ga-yo?
Meaning: What are the main tasks during this shift? -
Expression: 이 근무 시간 동안 휴식 시간은 얼마나 되나요?
Pronunciation: i geun-mu si-gan dong-an hyu-sik si-gan-eun eol-ma-na doe-na-yo?
Meaning: How long is the break during this shift? -
Expression: 오늘 초과 근무가 예상되나요?
Pronunciation: o-neul cho-gwa geun-mu-ga ye-sang-doe-na-yo?
Meaning: Is overtime expected today? -
Expression: 근무자 명단은 어디서 볼 수 있나요?
Pronunciation: geun-mu-ja myeong-dan-eun eo-di-seo bol su in-na-yo?
Meaning: Where can I find the shift roster/list of workers? -
Expression: 제 근무 시간을 다시 한번 알려주시겠어요?
Pronunciation: je geun-mu si-gan-eul da-si han-beon al-lyeo-ju-si-ge-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Could you remind me of my shift time again? -
Expression: 혹시 근무 시간 조정이 가능한가요?
Pronunciation: hok-si geun-mu si-gan jo-jeong-i ga-neung-han-ga-yo?
Meaning: Is it possible to adjust the work hours, by any chance?
Korean Culture Notes
Understanding workplace culture is key when discussing shifts in Korea. Punctuality (시간 엄수 – si-gan eom-su) is extremely important; always arrive on time for your shift and for handover.
Teamwork (팀워크 – tim-wo-keu) and helping colleagues is valued. Covering a shift for someone (대신 근무하다 – dae-sin geun-mu-ha-da) is common, but requests should be made politely and well in advance, especially to seniors.
Clear communication about schedules is vital. Use formal language (존댓말 – jon-daen-mal) when discussing shifts with superiors or older colleagues, even during informal breaks.
Shift changes often need approval from a team leader (팀장님 – tim-jang-nim) or manager. Don’t assume a switch is okay just because a colleague agreed; follow the proper procedure.
Be prepared for potential last-minute changes, although efforts are usually made to finalize schedules in advance. Always double-check the official schedule board or system.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: Minjun and Sora, two colleagues, are having coffee during their break. Minjun needs to explain a recent change in next week’s team shift schedule.
Roles: A = Minjun (Explaining the shift change), B = Sora (Colleague receiving information)
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Expression: A: 소라 씨, 잠깐 시간 괜찮아요? 다음 주 근무표에 대해 할 말이 있어요.
Pronunciation: so-ra ssi, jam-kkan si-gan gwaen-chan-a-yo? da-eum ju geun-mu-pyo-e dae-hae hal ma-ri i-sseo-yo.
Meaning: Sora, do you have a moment? I need to talk about next week’s schedule. -
Expression: B: 네, 민준 씨. 무슨 일인데요? 변경 사항이라도 있나요?
Pronunciation: ne, min-jun ssi. mu-seun i-rin-de-yo? byeon-gyeong sa-hang-i-ra-do in-na-yo?
Meaning: Yes, Minjun. What’s up? Are there any changes? -
Expression: A: 네, 팀장님이 방금 알려주셨는데, 다음 주 수요일하고 목요일 근무가 바뀌었어요.
Pronunciation: ne, tim-jang-nim-i bang-geum al-lyeo-ju-syeon-neun-de, da-eum ju su-yo-il-ha-go mok-yo-il geun-mu-ga ba-kkwi-eo-sseo-yo.
Meaning: Yes, the team leader just informed me. Our shifts for next Wednesday and Thursday have been switched. -
Expression: B: 아, 정말요? 그럼 제가 언제 근무하게 되나요?
Pronunciation: a, jeong-mal-lyo? geu-reom je-ga eon-je geun-mu-ha-ge doe-na-yo?
Meaning: Oh, really? So when will I be working? -
Expression: A: 원래 소라 씨가 수요일 오전, 제가 목요일 오후였잖아요? 그게 서로 바뀌어서, 소라 씨가 목요일 오후, 제가 수요일 오전에 근무하게 됐어요.
Pronunciation: won-rae so-ra ssi-ga su-yo-il o-jeon, je-ga mok-yo-il o-hu-yeot-jan-a-yo? geu-ge seo-ro ba-kkwi-eo-seo, so-ra ssi-ga mok-yo-il o-hu, je-ga su-yo-il o-jeon-e geun-mu-ha-ge dwae-sseo-yo.
Meaning: Originally, you were Wednesday morning and I was Thursday afternoon, right? That’s been swapped, so you’ll work Thursday afternoon, and I’ll work Wednesday morning. -
Expression: B: 그렇군요. 알겠습니다. 다른 날은 변동 없고요?
Pronunciation: geu-reo-kun-yo. al-get-sseum-ni-da. da-reun na-reun byeon-dong eop-go-yo?
Meaning: I see. Understood. No changes for the other days? -
Expression: A: 네, 다른 날은 그대로예요. 팀장님이 곧 공지하신다고 하셨어요. 그래도 미리 알고 계시는 게 좋을 것 같아서요.
Pronunciation: ne, da-reun na-reun geu-dae-ro-ye-yo. tim-jang-nim-i got gong-ji-ha-sin-da-go ha-syeo-sseo-yo. geu-rae-do mi-ri al-go gye-si-neun ge jo-eul geot ga-ta-seo-yo.
Meaning: Yes, the other days are the same. The team leader said they’ll announce it soon, but I thought it would be good for you to know in advance. -
Expression: B: 네, 알려주셔서 감사합니다! 그럼 목요일 오후 근무 준비해야겠네요.
Pronunciation: ne, al-lyeo-ju-syeo-seo gam-sa-ham-ni-da! geu-reom mok-yo-il o-hu geun-mu jun-bi-hae-ya-gen-ne-yo.
Meaning: Okay, thank you for letting me know! I guess I’ll need to prepare for the Thursday afternoon shift then.
Practice Tips
Mastering these phrases takes practice! Try role-playing conversations about shift changes with a language partner or friend~ Imagine different scenarios, like requesting a swap or explaining a new schedule.
Review the vocabulary related to time, days of the week, and work shifts regularly. You can make flashcards or use language learning apps!
Pay attention to how colleagues discuss schedules in Korean dramas or movies set in workplaces. This can help you pick up natural expressions and intonation!
Don’t be afraid to use these phrases in a real (or practice) setting. Start with simple sentences and gradually build complexity. Fighting! (화이팅! – hwa-i-ting!)
